Should good people be pointed at with guns?
Should doing good deeds mean never asking where the road leads?
Qin Annian didn't know. He figured that as long as he didn't regret his choices, that was enough.
Had he regretted going to teach in a remote village in his previous life? No!
Had he regretted getting this far in this life? No, either!
He had chosen this path himself, so he would climb to its peak!
Qin Annian's blood surged like a tide, carrying a massive supply of oxygen to his muscles and organs. Strength beyond his limits burst forth inside him.
"Whoosh!"
He yanked the short spear from the mechanical fist it had pinned down and darted toward Sickle, who was trembling all over.
Sickle's eyes bulged. He frantically sent a restart command through his nerves.
The Modified Organs inside him, their functions sluggish, finally began operating at full capacity, stopping his body's uncontrolled trembling.
Boom!
His blood surged, turning his face bright red.
"Is this Qin guy even human?"
"How can his combat strength possibly..."
The dim electronic eyes glowed red again, locking onto Qin Annian once more.
Then—
A piercing warning blared inside Sickle's electronic eardrums!
[Combat strength suspected to exceed 213. Flee immediately!]
A crimson inverted triangle with an exclamation mark, the sign of danger, appeared above Qin Annian. Sickle seemed to stop breathing for a moment!
"213?!"
That combat strength was more than ten times his Life Development Power of 20!
What's more—
There was no way this public security officer surnamed Qin had a Life Development Power above 20!
Even with his mechanical frame supporting him, Sickle felt as if an invisible giant hand had squeezed his heart down to the size of a ping-pong ball.
The feeling of suffocation grew even stronger!
"Come on!"
"Open!"
Watching Qin Annian charge at him with the short spear in hand,
Sickle's face twisted into a savage grimace. He roared hoarsely as he forced his Modified Organs to operate beyond their limits. If he didn't give it everything now, he'd have no chance!
A sharp whine rang inside his body. All kinds of drugs flooded into his blood vessels and coursed through him, sending his combat strength soaring past 200.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
In the space of a few breaths, the last patches of skin on Sickle's body turned bright red.
He snatched up the iron cage from the ground and hurled it viciously at Qin Annian as he charged.
"I paid such a high price just to break through the limit of 200 combat strength."
"What makes this monster think he can?"
He stared at Qin Annian with venomous jealousy swelling in his heart.
Bang!
The iron cage was knocked flying. Qin Annian drove the short spear into the concrete floor, used it to vault himself into the air, and swung through a full circle!
Leg Technique: Mountain-Splitting Axe!
His leg technique, honed to perfection, gathered a razor-sharp edge and crashed down on Sickle with tremendous force.
[Combat strength: 193!]
The numbers in Sickle's electronic eyes brought a hint of delight to his face!
"Just as I thought!"
"Even a monster like you can't keep your combat strength above 200 forever!"
That would defy reason!
Meanwhile, the combat strength he'd gained at the cost of grievous injuries could stay above 200 indefinitely!
"Come!"
"Fight!"
Sickle roared hysterically. His towering body charged toward Qin Annian, and the bayonet in his hand stabbed at Qin Annian's throat from a tricky angle. He planned to trade a wound for a life!
The next moment—
Sickle's figure sank low. He caught Qin Annian's kick.
But the bayonet in his hand didn't pierce Qin Annian's throat as he'd hoped.
Crack!
Qin Annian let go of the short spear with both hands and wrapped his arms around Sickle's mechanical ones with impossible flexibility. Then he turned that gentle force into a fierce, domineering strength and wrenched the mechanical arms clean off!
Fist Technique: Willow-Bending!
"Roar!"
Sickle's face contorted as he howled, cold sweat covering his forehead.
Boom!
His body crashed to the ground.
Qin Annian looked down at Sickle and raised his clenched left fist.
[Combat strength: 243!]
Xingyi Cannon Fist!
It was as if a howitzer shell had slammed into the concrete floor.
Boom!
A violent roar rang through the warehouse. The ground trembled faintly!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Qin Annian kept punching until he could no longer sense the faintest trace of life. Only then did he lower his fist, rise with an impassive expression, and pull the short spear from the floor.
"Stay close to me."
Qin Annian looked past the iron door toward the alley, where flames licked hungrily. His keen hearing had already picked up the sound of many people rushing toward the warehouse.
Lin Zi'ang gritted his teeth against the pain, found a rope, and tied his sister to his chest before following Qin Annian.
Qin Annian bit open an energy bar and swallowed it in a few quick mouthfuls. Taking the lead, he walked out of the warehouse with the short spear in hand!
"Captain Chen, this is Supply Ship."
"We've reestablished contact with Cicada."
"The disturbance in the southwest of the Old District is very likely related to the foreign races."
Contrary to what they'd previously suspected, these people hadn't gathered to target Qin Annian—or rather, they'd only planned to take him out along the way.
Chen Qintao was directing his team as they tied up the unconscious gang members. At the report, his pupils contracted to pinpricks!
Cicada was an undercover operative the Intelligence and Technical Support Brigade had placed in the Cultivation Holders Association. His identity was classified at the highest level.
Only the bureau chief and the head of the Operations Division knew who he really was.
But the words "foreign races" sent a chill through Chen Qintao, followed by a surge of fury!
"Those bastards in the Cultivation Holders Association!"
"They actually dared to collude with the foreign races?!"
Supply Ship calmly relayed the higher-ups' orders to Captain Chen:
"The other two squads that entered the Old District are moving toward your position. The two reserve squads are ready as well."
"The combat map has been updated. Your team will act as the vanguard. Take the underground passage to the Cultivation Holders Association's underground base and prepare for battle."
After giving the orders, Supply Ship added:
"Public security officer Qin has already headed to Iron Rod Gang headquarters. The underground passage is nearby, so please keep an eye on his situation."
What?!
Captain Chen's brow furrowed at this.
Qin Annian was a genius, but his Life Development Power was far too low.
Now—
The Old District was in chaos, and the southwest sector was about to become the main battlefield.
Even Chen Qintao, a martial artist with a Life Development Power of over 83, felt immense pressure. Why would Qin Annian come here and get involved?
"Understood."
"We'll head to the underground passage immediately."
After ending the call, Chen Qintao issued an order over the squad channel:
"Lin Xiao, take Group C and escort the prisoners back. Groups A and B, with me!"
Lin Xiao watched Chen Qintao lead the others away, his eyes full of envy.
He knew his own limits. His Life Development Power was too low, and he'd only hold them back if he went along. All he could do was handle tasks like maintaining order and cleaning up after the battle.
"What a shame!"
"I have to miss this battle."
"I wonder where Qin Annian is. Our Life Development Powers are all too low—we simply aren't strong enough to take part in this war."
"We won't get to see a real fight."
"But—"
"Qin Annian has already made a great contribution."
Lin Xiao sighed. Once they got out, he decided, he'd find Qin Annian and make him treat him to a meal.
Casting one last reluctant glance in the direction where Chen Qintao and the others had disappeared, Lin Xiao waved for his people to escort the unconscious gang members away.
Rumble!
Just then—
The roar of engines came from the sky.
Lin Xiao looked up and saw five helicopters loaded with firefighting water flying toward the Old District!
"Move!"
"Let's head back!"
Lin Xiao withdrew his gaze and led Group C out of the Old District.
Before you continue